If Lin Fan could see what was happening now, he would have realized that the Zerg Ancestor within Tang San had completely awakened.
"You…"
Even Tang San, who had faced countless trials, could not remain calm upon seeing another version of himself.
"Don't be alarmed," the Zerg Ancestor said, its voice echoing like a whisper from the abyss. "Don't you want to know why Spirit Hall's people possess so many ten-thousand-year spirit rings?"
Before Tang San could reply, the Zerg Ancestor appeared beside him, its form hazy and sinister.
"W–Why?"
Even as a reincarnated soul, Tang San had never encountered such an overwhelming presence. Not even a Titled Douluo could exert pressure like this.
"That… I can't tell you yet," the Zerg Ancestor said, circling Tang San like a predator. "But if you agree to my offer, you too can possess such power—perhaps even greater than theirs."
"The reason Spirit Hall's people have advanced so far… is because of me."
Its words were soft and tempting, carrying an insidious allure.
"What do you want me to do?" Tang San asked, slowly raising his head.
"Just let me control your body," the Zerg Ancestor whispered. "I promise you'll get the answer you seek—and victory."
As it spoke, the Zerg Ancestor extended its clawed hand. Without hesitation, Tang San reached out and clasped it.
On the battlefield, Yan gasped for air, his hands on his knees, sweat dripping from his chin.
"What the hell is this monster? Even a Spirit Saint should've been injured by now…"
His frustration boiled over—every attack he and the others unleashed struck Tang San's body without leaving so much as a scratch. Not even his clothing tore.
But then—
"You've played enough," came a deep, rasping voice that chilled their blood.
The sound came from Tang San's mouth, but the tone belonged to something else entirely. The group stiffened instantly, all trace of arrogance vanishing.
"Now… the real battle begins."
Tang San—or rather, the Zerg Ancestor—vanished from sight.
A shadow streaked across the arena. The next instant, a Spirit Hall disciple was impaled upon Tang San's Eight Spider Lances, suspended helplessly in the air. Blood dripped slowly from the tips as the man's spirit power was drained away, until he collapsed unconscious.
"How disappointing," the Zerg Ancestor murmured, flicking the body aside with disgust. "I was hoping for more entertainment."
Its crimson eyes turned toward Xie Yue and the others, the gaze so cold and invasive it made even them feel suffocated.
Watching from the stands, Li Kai trembled violently. For the first time, he was grateful he'd been eliminated earlier—otherwise, he might be the one lying unconscious on the ground right now.
Then something even more shocking occurred—
Five pitch-black spirit rings rose behind Tang San, each glowing with the oppressive aura of ten-thousand-year soul rings.
"What in the world—?!"
"Five ten-thousand-year rings?! How is that possible?!"
"Am I… outdated? Has the entire world gone insane?"
Everyone stared, dumbfounded. Tang San's ring configuration was well known, yet before their eyes, his rings had transformed. How could spirit rings change their age like that?
Even the cold and stoic Sword Douluo Chen Xin widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Impossible… Even a Titled Douluo could not achieve this!"
In the stands, Yu Xiaogang suddenly stood, shouting with manic excitement.
"Did you see that?! That's Tang San! My disciple!"
The crowd groaned inwardly. Though Tang San's rings had nothing to do with him, Yu Xiaogang basked in reflected glory.
Someone muttered from nearby, "Even if your disciple is a genius, it doesn't make you one."
But no one dared speak too loudly.
"Truly the child of destiny," Lin Fan murmured under his breath, eyes narrowing as he gazed at Tang San's transformed form.
If the Zerg Ancestor hadn't awakened, Spirit Hall's victory would've been guaranteed—but now, the situation had changed entirely.
"Use that technique," Yan said suddenly to Xie Yue and Hu Liena, his tone grave. "I'll buy you time."
"Understood," Xie Yue replied, his usual arrogance replaced by a rare seriousness. Even he could feel the danger emanating from Tang San.
The Zerg Ancestor grinned, licking its lips. "Show me what you've got. I can feel how… delicious your bodies are."
Without another word, Yan charged, spirit power erupting around him in flames.
Yet no matter how he fought, he could barely touch his opponent. The Zerg Ancestor used the Eight Spider Lances to maneuver effortlessly, weaving circles around Yan, refusing direct confrontation.
"Coward! Are you just going to run forever?!" Yan roared in frustration.
"Hehehe…" The Zerg Ancestor's grin widened. "Don't you enjoy the thrill of being hunted? Watching your prey struggle, knowing it can't escape?"
A blur of motion—
The Eight Spider Lances pierced through Yan's chest, lifting him from the ground before flicking him out of the arena like a discarded toy.
Only when his body hit the dirt did Yan realize the truth—he'd never even been an opponent. He'd been prey.
"Now then…"
The Zerg Ancestor slowly turned toward Xie Yue and Hu Liena—only for its pupils to contract sharply.
"...A Demon God?!"
At that moment, their Martial Spirit Fusion Technique was complete. A colossal black phantom loomed over the arena, its form towering like a demonic god. Each step it took cracked the earth beneath its feet.
The curved blade it held hummed with destructive power.
The Zerg Ancestor's instincts screamed danger. It tried to move—but found its body completely locked in place by the overwhelming aura of the fusion spirit.
"Lin Fan… what kind of monsters have you created?!"
The massive blade descended.
The Eight Spider Lances crossed before Tang San's body in defense, but the instant the blade met them, a shockwave burst outward, hurling weaker soul masters clear out of the stands.
Cracks spread across the Eight Spider Lances—then they shattered completely, exploding into fragments like glass meeting boiling water.
The Zerg Ancestor was thrown from the arena by the blast.
"What was that?!" Tang San shouted within his mind. "You said you'd help me win! Now I've lost my external spirit bone!"
The Zerg Ancestor sighed. "I didn't expect them to wield such a monstrous fusion ability. Still… those five ten-thousand-year spirit rings of yours are real. In time, you'll surpass them all."
Though he was furious, Tang San could feel it—his body was vastly stronger now. The loss of his Eight Spider Lances was painful, but the boost from five ten-thousand-year rings was undeniable.
"Handle the rest yourself," the Zerg Ancestor murmured faintly. "I need to recover…"
Then its presence faded, leaving Tang San alone amid the wreckage of the arena—his body trembling, yet his aura still burning with the power of something far beyond human.
****
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